How life has changed in Guildford

Guildford's population increased by about 7,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Guildford increased by 5.8%, from almost 130,000 to 137,000.

The addition of almost 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Guildford was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Guildford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Guildford increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This area had a lower average age than the South East and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 2,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 10.0% of people in Guildford are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Guildford saw the South East's second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.7%) households in Guildford had only one person, compared with 29.1% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.2% to 9.3%.

Across the region, only Brighton and Hove saw a greater fall in the proportion of one-person households (from 39.4% to 36.4%).

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Guildford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Guildford was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.0 points.

In 2011, 30.1% of respondents in Guildford gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 18.2% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Guildford, 65.3% said they were Christian, compared with 79.3% in 2001. About 2.1% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.9% a decade prior.

In Guildford, 7.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Guildford increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Guildford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Guildford

The percentage of Guildford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.0%, while the percentage of Guildford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.8%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Guildford, but at a slower rate than in Rushmoor (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Guildford).

In Guildford, the proportion of private renting increased from 11.3% in 2001 to 15.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rushmoor increased from 10.7% to 17.6%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Guildford increased from 12.5% to 12.8%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73.2% to 68.8%.

Private renting in Guildford increased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Guildford, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Guildford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.7% to 3.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75.2% in 2001. The percentage of Guildford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.1% to 9.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Guildford decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Guildford, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Guildford

In 2011, 4.8% of Guildford residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 2.0% in 2001. The 2.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 90.9% of people in Guildford said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.9% in 2001. About 1.8% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.9% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) increased from 0.5% to 1.2%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Guildford increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households in Guildford with children increased from 27.1% to 29.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62.3%) households had no children, compared with 64.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Guildford with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.8% to 8.7%.

The proportion of households with children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Guildford

The percentage of married people fell in Guildford, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Guildford, the proportion of married people decreased from 51.2% in 2001 to 49.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 50.6% to 46.6%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 52.8% to 49.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Guildford increased from 32.8% to 35.2%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.9% to 9.4%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Guildford residents that were studying increased from 3.6% to 4.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.6% in 2001. The percentage of Guildford residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.7%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Guildford increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Guildford, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Guildford working less than 16 hours increased from 2.5% to 3.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Guildford increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Guildford, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Guildford residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, 1.5% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Guildford remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Guildford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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